The American Red Cross Colorado Region responds to wildfires, flooding, severe weather, and home fires across the state, opening shelters immediately after disasters and coordinating long-term recovery for displaced residents. Wildfire risk in Colorado has become a year-round concern; the 2021 Marshall Fire alone destroyed over 1,000 homes in Boulder County. This page covers how to give blood or money, how volunteering works, and what to do if you need help now.
When a wildfire forces evacuations, the Red Cross deploys immediately: shelters open, emergency assistance starts, and casework continues long after the fire line is contained. The Marshall Fire and the record-setting 2020 fire season showed how fast entire neighborhoods can be displaced, and long-term recovery coordination has become as important as the first 48 hours. Caseworkers stay with displaced households well after the shelters close, helping families work through housing and recovery steps.
Home fires are the quieter, constant workload. A single-family fire doesn't make the news, but the response is the same: emergency lodging, clothing, and food for the household, at no cost. If you were displaced by a wildfire, flood, or house fire in Colorado, call 1-800-RED-CROSS for immediate help.
Blood collection runs at donor centers across the Front Range and the Western Slope, and appointments are typically available within days at most Colorado chapters. Book through redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
A whole blood appointment usually takes about an hour door to door, and you can donate roughly every eight weeks. If you have never donated, the site's eligibility guidance answers most questions before you book. Employers, schools, and congregations can also host their own drives, which is how much of the state's collection actually happens.
Financial gifts at redcross.org fund disaster response wherever it is needed; you can also designate gifts to specific disaster funds during major events. Volunteers make up the bulk of the disaster workforce, and in Colorado wildfire responders complete specialized training on top of the standard disaster curriculum.
Chapters across the state also teach CPR and first aid classes, which is a practical way to engage if regular volunteering doesn't fit your schedule. Through its national Home Fire Campaign, the Red Cross additionally installs free smoke alarms; ask your local Colorado chapter whether installations are currently running in your area.
The American Red Cross is a registered 501(c)(3); you can confirm any charity's status through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov and check ratings on Charity Navigator. Save written acknowledgments for gifts of $250 or more.
Sources: American Red Cross — Colorado Region official site (redcross.org); our Colorado charity guide research. Retrieved July 2026. We are not affiliated with American Red Cross — Colorado Region and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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